So John Walker Lindh plead guilty today to two separate charges that will land him in jail for at least 17 years. I wonder what its like to go from being part of one of the most extreme religious/political movements to getting your lawyers to weasel a deal from the Great Satan so you don’t die in jail.
And what kind of life will this guy have when he’s released? The Washington Post quotes Lindh’s father Frank as saying,
Never once did he say anything against the United States. I think any father who knows John would be proud to claim him as a son. He’s a really good kid.
Yeah, I was just thinking the other day that I can’t wait for my kids to grow up to march off and defend Islamofascism wherever it is threatened. But aside from his insane relatives, who is going to want to see this guy released in 2020 or so? Does he think people will have forgotten by then? I don’t.
Maybe he will go overseas — maybe there will still be extremist Islamic groups that might treat him as a celebrity. Especially after the inevitable book deal (you know somebody’s going to be willing to pay him big bucks for a book/movie deal).
Will he even survive prison? How are authorities going to keep other prisoners from killing Walker? Part of the deal involves Walker providing information and testimony for the government — if I were the feds, I’d get all I can from Lindh ASAP before some lifer decides to avenge Sept. 11 on Lindh’s skull.
Source:
Lindh Admits Guilt to Two Charges. The Washington Post, July 15, 2002.